Mohamed Salah remains a target for the Saudi Pro League, with Al Ittihad ready to do a deal. But Liverpool are showing little desire to accept a transfer this summer, 90min understands.
Sources have confirmed to 90min that Salah, along with Paul Pogba, are the Saudi Pro League's current top targets as they seek to recruit the world's best footballing talent, whilst also wanting the most high profile Muslim players in the sport to be performing in Saudi Arabia.
90min understands that Al Ittihad feel there is a chance to land Salah and won't give up, even though Liverpool are showing no indication at all that they would be looking to let one of their prized assets leave. Sources insist that remains the case.
Having already sold former captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, Liverpool's hierarchy are well aware of just how deep the pockets of PIF - Al Ittihad's owners - are. Although whether Al Ittihad could produce an offer big enough for Salah this summer remains to be seen as it would likely need to be a club record sale for Liverpool, which is currently £142m which came from the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018.
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They would also need to produce a salary worthy of such a deal, but Al Ittihad have already shown they have no problem in doing that. They have so far landed the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante this summer, both of whom are now amongst the highest paid players in world football - indeed only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are now paid more than the French pair. But to land Salah, they would likely have to get close to Ronaldo's Al Nassr deal, which is worth £3m a week.
Sources believe that Salah is open to a move to Saudi Arabia, but whether that is this summer remains to be seen. There continue to be doubts about his long-term future at Liverpool, despite signing a new contract as recently as last summer.
90min interviewed Egyptian football supremo Mamdouh Eid, a close friend of Salah, earlier this week and he questioned the treatment of the player by manager Jurgen Klopp.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Liverpool stand firm over Mohamed Salah amid Saudi Pro League interest.
